Seat with adjustable side support device

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle seat having a backrest portion and a seating portion, a pair of movable lateral bolster sections mounted on opposite sides of at least one of said portions and projecting therefrom, and adjustment means including a pair of drive members, for selectively and simultaneously moving the bolster sections in a controlled fashion between a first lateral support position and a second lateral support position, said adjustment means being adapted to maintain the bolster sections in the first and second lateral positions wherein each of said bolster sections has inner and outer parts, said sections being connected at opposite sides of said one of said portions at their inner parts and wherein said one of said portions includes a frame assembly and wherein each of said bolster sections includes a rigid support paddle, having an outer free end portion and an inner, supported end portion, the inner end portion of said support paddle being hingedly connected to said frame assembly to permit the support paddle to rotate about a first longitudinal axis and wherein each support paddle is hingedly connected to its respective drive member to permit the support paddle to rotate with respect to the drive member about a second longitudinal axis spaced away from the first longitudinal axis to move the free end portion of the support paddle about the first longitudinal axis, coupling means pivoted to said frame assembly to rotate thereon about a pivot point, said coupling means interconnecting said drive members, operating means including a rotary drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame assembly with handle means for manually rotating said drive shaft, a coupling member threaded on said drive shaft to be movable along said shaft, said coupling member coupled to said coupling means whereby movement of said coupling member along said shaft as a result of the manual rotation of said shaft causes said coupling means to rotate about said pivot point on said frame assembly to cause said drive members to simultaneously move said support paddles.

Claim 3

In combination with a vehicle seat having a backrest portion and a seating portion, a pair of movable lateral bolster sections mounted on opposite sides of at least one of said portions and projecting therefrom, and adjustment means including a pair of drive members, for selectively and simultaneously moving the bolster sections in a controlled fashion between a first lateral support position and a second lateral support position, said adjustment means being adapted to maintain the bolster sections in the first and second lateral positions wherein each of said bolster sections has inner and outer parts, said sections being connected at opposite sides of said one of said portions at their inner parts and wherein said one of said portions includes a frame assembly and wherein each of said bolster sections includes a rigid support paddle, having an outer free end portion and an inner, supported end portion, the inner end portion of said support paddle being hingedly connected to said frame assembly to permit the support paddle to rotate about a first longitudinal axis and wherein each support paddle is hingedly connected to its respective drive member to permit the support paddle to rotate with respect to the drive member about a second longitudinal axis spaced away from the first longitudinal axis to move the free end portion of the support paddle about the first longitudinal axis, coupling means pivoted to said frame assembly to rotate thereon about a pivot point, said coupling means interconnecting said drive members, operating means including a rotary drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame assembly with handle means for manually rotating said drive shaft, a coupling member threaded for connection with said drive shaft to be movable along the longitudinal axis thereof, said coupling member coupled to said coupling means whereby movement of said coupling member along the longitudinal axis of said shaft as a result of the manual rotation of said shaft causes said coupling means to rotate about said pivot point on said frame assembly to cause said drive members to simultaneously move said support paddles.

Claim 4

In combination with a vehicle seat having a backrest portion and a seating portion, a pair of movable lateral bolster sections mounted on opposite sides of at least one of said portions and projecting therefrom, and adjustment means including a pair of drive members, for selectively and simultaneously moving the bolster sections in a controlled fashion between a first lateral support position and a second lateral support position, said adjustment means being adapted to maintain the bolster sections in the first and second lateral positions wherein each of said bolster sections has inner and outer parts, said sections being connected at opposite sides of said one of said portions at their inner parts and wherein said one of said portions includes a frame assembly and wherein each of said bolster sections includes a rigid support paddle, having an outer free end portion and an inner, supported end portion, the inner end portion of said support paddle being hingedly connected to said frame assembly to permit the support paddle to rotate about a first longitudinal axis and wherein each support paddle is hingedly connected to its respective drive member to permit the support paddle to rotate with respect to the drive member about a second longitudinal axis spaced away from the first longitudinal axis to move the free end portion of the support paddle about the first longitudinal axis, coupling means pivoted to said frame assembly to rotate thereon about a pivot point, said coupling means interconnecting said drive members, operating means including a rotary drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame assembly with handle means for manually rotating said drive shaft, a coupling member threaded for connection with said drive shaft to be movable along the longitudinal axis thereof, said coupling member coupled to said coupling means whereby movement of said coupling member along the longitudinal axis of said shaft as a result of the manual rotation of said shaft causes said coupling means to rotate about said pivot point on said frame assembly to cause said drive members to simultaneously move said support paddles.

Claim 5

A seat having a seatback with adjustable occupant's side support devices, comprising: a seatback base plate having mutually spaced and opposed side flanges; wire springs overlying said base plate and extending between said side flanges; a flexible pad member supported on said wire springs, said pad member being integrally formed along its sides with pockets which open towards said base plate; wings received in said pockets, said wings being arranged to pivot about axes parallel to the plane of said seatback base plate; a pair of pivotal adjusting levers interposed between said base plate and the wire springs supporting said flexible pad member; first means for connecting each adjusting lever to one of said wings; second means for mechanically interconnecting said adjusting levers; and operating means for simultaneously adjusting the angular positions of said wings relative to said base plate by pivotally manipulating said adjusting levers; wherein said wings pivot about respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seatback; wherein said adjusting levers each have at least L-shaped sections respectively which pivot in a plane parallel to said seatback base plate, and which include respective pin sections extending toward said wings respectively, and wherein one of said adjusting levers includes an extension for connection with said operating means.

Claim 6

A seat having a seatback with adjustable occupant's side support devices, comprising: a seatback base plate having mutually spaced and opposed side flanges; wire springs overlying said base plate and extending between said side flanges; a flexible pad member supported on said wire springs, said pad member being integrally formed along its sides with pockets which open towards said base plate; wings received in said pockets, said wings being arranged to pivot about axes parallel to the plane of said seatback base plate; a pair of pivotal adjusting levers interposed between said base plate and the wire springs supporting said flexible pad member; first means for connecting each adjusting lever to one of said wings; second means for mechanically interconnecting said adjusting levers; and operating means for simultaneously adjusting the angular positions of said wings relative to said base plate by pivotally manipulating said adjusting levers; wherein said wings pivot about respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seatback; wherein said adjusting levers each have at least L-shaped sections respectively which pivot in a plane parallel to said seatback base plate, and which include respective pin sections extending toward said wings respectively, and wherein one of said adjusting levers includes an extension for connection with said operating means.

Claim 7

A seat having a seatback with adjustable occupant's side support devices, comprising: a seatback base plate having mutually spaced and opposed side flanges; wire springs overlying said base plate and extending between said side flanges; a flexible pad member supported on said wire springs, said pad member being integrally formed along its sides with pockets which open towards said base plate; wings received in said pockets, said wings being arranged to pivot about axes parallel to the plane of said seatback base plate; a pair of pivotal adjusting levers interposed between said base plate and the wire springs supporting said flexible pad member; first means for connecting each adjusting lever to one of said wings; second means for mechanically interconnecting said adjusting levers; and operating means for simultaneously adjusting the angular positions of said wings relative to said base plate by pivotally manipulating said adjusting levers; wherein said wings pivot about respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seatback; wherein said wings include respective arm portions for connecting said wings to said first means, and wherein said adjusting levers pivot about a common axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said seatback, one of said adjusting levers including an extension for connection with said operating means.

Claim 8

A seat having a seatback with adjustable occupant's side support devices, comprising: a seatback base plate having mutually spaced and opposed side flanges; wire springs overlying said base plate and extending between said side flanges; a flexible pad member supported on said wire springs, said pad member being integrally formed along its sides with pockets which open towards said base plate; wings received in said pockets, said wings being arranged to pivot about axes parallel to the plane of said seatback base plate; a pair of pivotal adjusting levers interposed between said base plate and the wire springs supporting said flexible pad member; first means for connecting each adjusting lever to one of said wings; second means for mechanically interconnecting said adjusting levers; and operating means for simultaneously adjusting the angular positions of said wings relative to said base plate by pivotally manipulating said adjusting levers; wherein said wings pivot about respective axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the seatback; wherein said wings include respective arm portions for connecting said wings to said first means, and wherein said adjusting levers pivot about a common axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said seatback, one of said adjusting levers including an extension for connection with said operating means.

Claim 9

A seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first means comprises respective arms securely connected to said wings to pivot therewith, said arms including respective elongate openings therein for receiving said pin sections of said adjusting levers respectively for transmitting the movement of said adjusting levers to said wings.

Claim 10

A seat as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second means comprises a pin mounted on one of the adjusting levers, said pin being slidably received in an elongate opening formed in the other adjusting lever.

Claim 11

A seat as claimed in claim 6, wherein said operating means comprises: a member having a flat portion, a pin extending normally from said flat portion and a threaded shaft extending from said member at a right angle relative to said pin; and a control knob having an internally threaded bore for receiving said threaded shaft, said pin being slidably received in an elongate opening formed in an extension of one of said adjusting levers.

Claim 12

A seat as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first means comprises respective springs which connect respective arm portions of said wings to said adjusting levers for transmitting the movement of said adjusting levers to said wings.

Claim 13

A seat as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second means comprises a shaft having said adjusting levers securely mounted thereto.

Claim 14

A seat as claimed in claim 9, wherein said operating means comprises: a cam mounted to a control knob for rotation therewith, said cam having a plurality of flat cam surfaces progressively spaced from the axis of rotation; and a cam follower member formed on said extension of said one of the adjusting levers, said cam follower member being engageable with said flat cam surfaces of the cam for selectively pivoting said adjusting levers to adjust the position of said wings.